Akinwunmi Isola (24 December 1939 – 17 February 2018) was a Nigerian playwright, novelist, actor, dramatist, culture activist and scholar. He was known for his writing in, and his work in promoting, the Yoruba language. As an actor, he was known for Agogo Eèwò (2002), Efunsetan Aniwura (1981) and Efunsetan Aniwura (2005). Early life and career Isola was born in Ibadan in 1939, attended Labode Methodist School and Wesley College. He studied at the University of Ibadan, earning a B.A. in French. He was appointed professor at the same University in 1991. Isola wrote his first play, Efunsetan Aniwura, during 1961-62 while still a student at the University of Ibadan. This was followed by a novel, O Le Ku. In 1986, he wrote and composed the college anthem that is currently being sung in Wesley College Ibadan. He went on to write a number of plays and novels. He broke into broadcasting, creating a production company that has turned a number of his plays into television dramas and films. Though he claimed that "my target audience are Yorubas", Isola also wrote in English and translated to Yoruba. The award-winning writer spent his lifetime producing works that promoted the Yoruba language. On May 4, 2015, his book Herbert Macaulay and the Spirit of Lagos was staged at University of Ilorin, Kwara state at the Performing Arts Theatre. It was directed by Adams Abdulfatai Ayomide, for the annual season of plays festival. In 2000, in recognition of his immense contributions, he was awarded the National Merit Award and the Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters. He was a visiting professor at the University of Georgia. Nigerian playwright, dramatist and actor, Professor Akinwumi Ishola died aged 78. Personal life Isola was married and had four children. He died on 17 February 2018 in Ibadan, Oyo State, aged 78. References Links Interview from The Sun newspaper Profile University of Ibadan alumni Yoruba writers 1939 births 2018 deaths Writers from Ibadan Male actors from Ibadan Nigerian dramatists and playwrights Yoruba dramatists and playwrights Yoruba male actors Nigerian male film actors University of Lagos alumni Male actors in Yoruba cinema Yoruba-language writers English-language writers from Nigeria English–Yoruba translators Yoruba academics Academic staff of Obafemi Awolowo University University of Georgia faculty 20th-century Nigerian writers 20th-century Nigerian dramatists and playwrights Nigerian expatriate academics in the United States 20th-century translators